Plate-clamping mechanism for printing-presses.



S. G. GOSS.

' PLATE GLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. G. GOSS.

PLATE GLAMPING MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING PREssBs'.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1909.

Patented Apr.5, 1910.

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PLATE OLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PEESSES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1909.

954,090. Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

3 4 SHEETS-SHEET s. Q 8 16 57 800/48 5 5 Kw 63 mw S. G. GOSS.

PLATE CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1909.

954,090. Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

QSHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES:

PATENT orricn."

"SAMUEL G. G088, GDP-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNDG '50 THE eoss PBIN' PING- PRESS COM- PA'NY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,-

A COBHORA MN 0F LIN S- PLATE-CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES:

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, SAMUEL G. Goss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Clamping Mechanism for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings.

My invention relates to plate clamping mechanism for printing presses, and its object is to provide a new and improved .mechanism by which theclamps on a plate cylinder, independently movable longitudinally of the cylinder for the purpose of adjusting the clamps to plates of different widths, may be caused by pneumaticallyoperated mechanism to simultaneously move into engagement with and to be looked upon the edge of the plate in position on the cylinder.

My invention further consists in new and improved pneumatically-operated mechanism adapted for the operation of plateclamps upon a printing press cylinder in order to move a plurality of clamps simultaneously into engagement with and locking them upon the edge of a plate in posit-ion on said cylinder.

I accomplish these objects by the means illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter specifically described.

That which I believe to be pointed out in the claims.

lfiigure 1 is a top or plan view of a plate cylinder containing my new and improved plate clamp operating mechanism, said cylinder being shown broken away for clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the cylinder on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, being a vertical section through one end of the cylinder, showing the clamp-operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the locking lever which locks the clamps in position upon the plate. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are vertical sections of the controlling valve, showing the valve in different positions. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail, being a section on line 9.9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is an enlarged end view of the plate cylinder,

new will be showing a modification of my apparatus.

11 indicates a plate cylinder upon which are mounted plates 12-13' which extend Specification 0t Letters Iatent. Application filed June 14, 1909. serial No. 502,130.

Patented Apri 5, 1910.

around .one semi-circumference of the cylinder, and attheir inner edges abut against the center stop 14 in the usual manner. The

cylinder represents an ordinary. two plate wide cylinder printing press,whic,h for urpose' of convenience I have chosen to i lustrate in describing my improvements; for it is obvious that cylindersof other widths may be used. 4

As my improved plate clamping mechanism which I am about to describe is mounted in duplicate upon each end of the cylinder, it will be necessary to describe in detail only the mechanism upon one end, it being understood that the mechanism upon the other end is precisely the same. j

15 indicates curved yokes' of a length somewhat less than a' semi-circumference of the cylinder, as is best shown in Fig. 2, and so shaped as to conform to the shape of the surface of the cylinder at the end beyond the plates 1213. A pair of these okes is placed upon each end of the cylin er, one yoke being adapted to operate as hereinafter described the mechanism for locking one plate, and the other to operate the mechanlsm for locking the other plate upon the other semi-circumference.

Referring to F ig. 3, 16 indicates a hanger which is secured to ,or formed integral with the oke 15 and which, located below the middle of the yoke, extends toward the interior of the cylinder through a slot 17 so as to move freely in said slot longitudinally of the cylinder. The yoke 16 is so formed as to have two heads 18--19 between which is mounted a plate clamp 20 hereinafter described.

21 indicates a screw which passes through suitable threaded openings in the heads 1819 of the hanger 16 and at its outer end passes through the end plate 22 of the cylinder and is provided with a head 23 by means of which the screw may be turned. The inner end of the screw 21 passes into a cylindrical opening 24 in the body of the cylinder so as to "movelongitudinally therein, the screw 21 being journaled in said opening and in the end plate 22 of the cylinder.

25 indicates a head which, is secured upon the screw 21 inside of the plate cylindercnd 22 and normally bears against the inside surface thereof. The head 25 is provided with a cam surface 26, as best shown in Fig. 5, for

r so

. tween ithe-plate clamp p of the hanger l6.

purposes hereinafter described. The clamp I is-mounted on the screw 21 so as to slide -freely"thereon and is provided withan en-.

gaging shoulder 20 beveled so as toengage the beveled outer edge of the plate 12-13, as hereinafter described. i

27 indicates a spiral spring interposed be- 20 and the head .18 of 16 so as to spring-seatthe clamp 21 between the heads 181.) The hanger 16 isprovided "bracket 28' preferably the hanger 20 on the screw with a .dependin "lformeddntegral tiere'with, in which is se-1 cured-f he outer'end-of a piston-rod 29 of a 'piston 30 which slides air-tight in acyhnder'31. 1

32 indicates plate clamps which are slidingly mounted in th'e'usual manner in slots 33 on the: plate cylinder and screws 34 which pass-through suitable screw "the'outer ends of the plates.

lon itudinal movement in the cylinder by means of the openings 35 for the purpose oftheslmultaneous locking of the clamps ashereinafter descrlbedand are provided on'tlieif-o'uter ends with heads 36 by means of which 't he'ymayfbe turned. The turning of the-screw heads 36 operates,- each separately,

soas to adjustthem .upon "*difi'e'rent widths of plates.

the clamps 32 in the ordinary manner the cylinder to The screws 34 pass through suitable openings on the'under side of the yokes '15 near their ends. 7 "37 indicates spiral springs interposed betw'een' the'endsof the-yoke 15 and the plate clainps 32.

' the plate clamp It will. be obvious that by turning the screw 21, the hanger 16, yoke 15 and 20 may, be moved longitudinally of the cylinder so as to adjust the clamp to dillerent widths of plate. By the turning of the screws 34, the clamps ma be also ad'usted independently of the yoke 15 and independently of cacholher to diiferent widths of plate.

' the position shown best in Figs. 1, 3

The adjustmentbeing madeto the different \\-'idths-of-plate and the parts being in and 4-,

it is obvious that an inward movement of the piston '30 will carry with it the hanger 1.6 and the yoke 15 and that the plate clamps 20 and 32 will be simultaneously moved longitudinally of the cylinder against the edge of the plate, the springs being suliiciently strong butyielding in their engagement so as to allow for any irregularities in the edges of the plate.

Referring to detail Fig. 5, 38 indicates a bellcrank lever pivoted upon a suitable pivot 39 outside of the cylinder end the plate clamps become locked 22 and provided witharms 38 and .38". The arm 38" projects upward and has'inter'posed between it and'the outer surface of the cylinder end 22 a s iral spring 40. The inner arm prw jects into the cylinder 'through a suitable opening, as 41, and is adapted at its outer end to engage with the cam surface 26 of the head.25as soon as free to do so, the spring 40 tending to normally hold the parts in the positionshown in Fig. \Vhen the yoke 15 is moved inward, as above described,

so as to move the clamps simultaneously 1nto engagement with the edge'of the plate, the screws of course are carried inward with it and the head 25 is so placed that as soon as upon the plate the parts reach'the position shown in Fig. 5, in which position the arm 38, being lree to move toward the screw 21, is lifted into the position shown in Fig. 5 by the oporation of the spring 40, and, engagin the camor beveledsurface'26 of the hea 25, prevents the return of the parts and locks the yoke 15 against return movement and consequently locks the plate clamps.upon the plate. L

When it is desired to -remove the plates and the yoke 1-5 is moved toward the outer end of the cylinder by the operation of the piston in the manner hereinafter described, the arm 38 of the bellcrank lever 38 is pushed inward by hand against the action of the spring 40,'lea ving the parts free to return to the original position shown in Fig. 3. y

he piston in the cylinder 30 is operated by the following described mechanism. 42 indicates a pipe which leads from any suitable source of compressed air supply "and which is connected with and opens into a cap 43 which is screw-threaded upon a ring 44 which is revolubly mounted upon the axle 45 of the plate cylinder, the axle 45 being provided with a central boring 46 registering with the opening in the pipe42. The parts are held in position by means of a plate 47 secured to the outer end of the axle 45 which plate forms a flange around the outer end of the axle and is centrally bored and between the center surface of which and the inner edge of the collar 44 is interposed a suitable packing 48. A similar device (not shown) is placed of course upon the other end of the cylinder.

\Yithin the hub 49 of the cylinder, the opening 46 is connected with two transverse borings 50 extending radially of the hub.

51, indicates pipes which are screwed into the tubular borings 5O connecting with the axial boring 46.

52 indicates a cylindrical valve casing provided with openings 5354-5556-57, into one of which openings, the outer end of the tube 51 is screwed. The openings cheese 53 and 54 are diam y -P' iosite other and the openings 56 and 5 are preferably arranged diametrically opposite each other.

58 indicates a rotary valve which is journaled in the valve casing 52 and is secured therein by means ofa head 59 bearing upon the outer surface of the valve-casing 52 and by means of the nut 60 so that the valve may be rotated in its casing. The edge of the head or-cap 59 is provided with a plurality of notches .61 suitably spaced as hereinafter described, and which are adapted to be engaged by 2. lug .62 mounted upon the outer end of a spring .63 secured to the upper su-rface of the valve casing by means 'of which the valve may be locked in either one of its several positions, as hereinafter-described.

The valve 58 is provided with a central opening 64 and with two diametricallyopposite openin s 65-66 leading therefrom to the outer sur ace of the valve. The valve is also provided with another opening 67 leading from its central opening 64 to its outer surface radially arran ed and midway between the openings 65 an 6.6,--that is, in

such a position, for example, that when the opening 65 registers with the opening 55 the opening 67 will register with the opening 54, as shown in Fig. 6; when the opening 66 is opposite the opening 55, the opening 67 will register with the opening 53, as shown in Fig. 8; and when 1718 openings 65 and 66 are in register respectlvely with the openings 54433, the openin 67 will come against the closed portion 0 the casing, as shown in Fig. 7. The surface of the valve 58 is also provided with a recess 68 adapted, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, to connect openings 53 and 56 or 54 and 57.

69 indicates a ipe which at one end is screwed to the casing 52 in register with the opening 53 and at the other end leads into the inner end of the cylinder 31.

70 indicates a pipe which is screwed to the casing 52 in register with the o ening 54 and connects at its other end with the other or outer end of the cylinder 31.

The rotary valve 58 is provided with a head 71 by means of which the valve may be rotated.

The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 7, in which osition it will be obvious that the compresse air passing through the pipe 42 into the central boring 46 and into the pipes 51 willbe closed against passing into the cylinder 31 b the valve. At the same time it will be c ear that the pipes 69 and 70 will communicate with each other through passages 53, 54, 65 and 66, so as to permit the free movement of the piston 30 back and forth in the cylinder when the screw 21 is operated as above described to adjust the plate clamps to different cylinder widths. For instance, if the piston 30 moves nwa d to the rig in Fig. 3, the air fenced ahead of it will pass through pipe 69, through open ngs 53, 66, 65 and 54 into the pipe .70 flee e i o e oth r and f t cylinder, a ontrary m v ment Pr tee s a contrary passage of the am When it 1s des red to move the yoke 15 in orde to imultaneously move he Pla clamp inwar t nga me t wi h the edge of t h e plate, the valve is turned from the pos t on shown in Fig. 7 to the right int t po ition ho n in F 6- Th mp d a h y immedia ely en from the pipe 51 into the o ening 6.5, which is brought into registry wit the opening 55 y hi po on 9f th alve, out through the open ng .67 and opening 54 into the pipe 7 0, from which it passes into the outer end of the cylinder '31, forcing the piston inwar an mo ing h y ke inw rd to im ltan o slv cl mp the Plate clamp upon th plate. The air ahead of the piston 1s forced out through the pipe 69, opening 53, into the recess 68 in the valve .58 and out into the open air through the o ning 56 in the cas mg 52. As soon as til: clamps have been thus moved simultaneously and thfi yoke is looked as above described so as to lock the plate clam 3 upon the plate, the, valve may e tur ed ack-into the position shown in Fig. 7, the yoke being prevented from return and the clamps being held in en agernent wlth the plate by the bellcrank %ever 38 above described.

When it is desired to free the clamps from the plate so as to remove the plate, the valve is turned into the position shown in Fig. 8, in which case, suitable openings being brought into registry, as shown in Fig. 8, compressed air 1s forced through the pipe 51, opening 66 and opening 53 into the pipe 69 behind the piston, moving it in the opposite direction, the air ahead of the piston being forced out through the pipe 70, opening 54 in the casing, recess 68, and opening 57 in the casing.

By means of the lug 62 and the spring 63, coiiperatin with suitably arranged notches 61, the 1 Va ve may be removahly locked in any one of the three positions.

In Fig. 10, showing a modification, three cylinders, instead of one cylinder, are shown, each operating a separate plate clamp but operated simultaneously through the medlum of the valve. In this modification as shown, 72 indicates three cylinders, each mounted within the plate cylinder, each like the cylinder 31, and each containing a separate piston and piston rod like the piston 30 and piston rod 31 shown in Fig. 3 and hereinbefore described. In this case, no yoke 15 is provided, but three hangers 73 are provided each slidingly mounted in a suitable groove in the cylinder and like the hangers 16. In each of\these hangers 16 is (til carried a plate clamp 74-which is mounted therein in the same manner as th plate clamp 20 with relation to the hange 16 as above described. 75 indicates screws each journaled in the end and. body of the cylinder and longitudinally movable therein in the same manner as the screws 21 hereinbefore described, and each screw-threaded into its hanger 73 in the same manner as the screw 21 in the ham er 16, the clamps 74 being loosely mounte on the said screws in the same manner as the clamp 20. 52 indicates the valve provided with the exterior head 59 and turn-head 71 like the valve heieinabove described and connected by pipes 51 to the opening 50 as above described. 76--77 indicate pipes which are connected with the valve in the same manner as the pipes 69 and 70 but which open respectively into pipes 78 and 79. The pipes 78 are connected by suitable pipes, as 80, with the front ends of the cylinders 72, and the pipes 79 by suitable pipes, as 81, with the rear or inner ends of the cylinders 72, in the same manner as the pipes 69 and 70. The valve as has been said is precisely like the valve above described, having exactly the same openings and connections, and operating in exactly the same manner. It will be obvious by the above description of the modification that by the turning of the screws each of the plate clamps may be independently "and separately ad usted upon the cylinder in order to accommodate it to difierent plate widths, the pistons moving in the several cylinders in the .same manner as above described in describing the preferred form of device, the connections with and openings in the valve permitting the passage o the air as above described. When the plate clamps are adjusted for any given width of plate and it is desired to fasten the plate upon the cylinder, the movement of the valve in the same manner as above described permits air simultaneously to enter all three of the cylinders, and the plate clamps are simultaneously movedinto engagement with the edge of the plate. Turning the valve into the piston shown in'Fig. 8 causes the simultaneous movement of the pistons in the various cylinders in the opposite directions, and the simultaneous release of the clamps from the edges of the plates.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. The combination with a plate cylinder, and plates carried thereby, 0 plate clamps mounted on said cylinder, and neumatically-operated mechanism adapte to move said clamps into engagement with the edge of the plate.

The combination with a plate cylinder, and plates carried thereby, 0 plate clamps mounted on said cylinder and movable longitudinally thereof, and pneumatically-op erated mechanism adapted to move said clamps on said cylinder into engagement with the edge of the plate and to move said clamps away from said plate.

3. The combination with a late cylinder, and plates carried thereby, 0 plate clamps mounted on said cylinder and movable longitudinally thereof, means for separately and independently adjusting said plate clamps on the cylinder, and neumaticallyoperated mechanism adapts to simultaneously move said clamps on said cylinder into engagement with the edge of the plate.

4. The combination with a late cylinder,

and plates carried thereby, of plate clamps mounted on said cylinder and movable longitudinally thereof, means for separately and independently adjusting said plate clamps on the cylinder, neumatically-operated-mechanism adapted to simultaneously move said clamps on said cylinder into engagement with the edge of the plate, and means adapted to automatically lock said cllamps in engagement with the edge of said ate.

5. The combination with a plate cylinder adapted to receive. a stereotype plate, of a plate clamp mounted on said cylinder and movable longitudinally thereon, a screw having a movement longitudinally of said cylinder engaging said plate clamp and adapted by its rotation to move the same longitudinally of the cylinder, an air cylinder mounted in said plate cylinder and provided with a piston and piston rod, connections between said pistonrod and said clamp, and pneumatic mechanism adapted to operate the piston in said cylinder.

6. The combination with a plate cylinder adapted to contain stereotype plates, plate clamps carried by said plate cylinder and movable longitudinally thereof, and means for separately adjusting said plate clamps on said plate cylinder, of a yoke carried on said plate cylinder and movable longitudi .nally thereon, connections between said yoke and said plate clamps ada ted to move said plate clamps longitudina y of said plate cylinder with said yoke and pneumaticallyoperated mechanism a apted to move said yoke longitudinally of said plate cylinder.

7. The combination with a plate cylinder adapted to receive stereotype plates, of independently adjustable plate clamps mounted on said plate cylinder and movable longitudinally thereon, an air-cylinder mounted on said plate cylinder, a piston therein, connections between said piston and said plate clamps adapted by the movement of said piston to simultaneously move said plate clamps longitudinally of the cylinder, and pneumatic mechanism adapted to move said. piston in said air-cylinder.

8. The combination with a plate cylinder adapted to contain stereotype plates, plate clamps carried by said plate cylinder and movable lon ltudmally thereof and means erated mechanism adapted to move said yoke 10 longitudinally of said plate cylinder, and

for separate y adjusting said plate clamps mechanism adapted to automatically lock on said plate cylinder of a yoke carried on said plate cylinder and movable longitudinally thereon, connections between said yoke and said plate clamps adapted to move said plate clamps longitudinally of said plate cylinder wlth said yoke, pneumatically-opsaid plate clamps against said stereotype plates.

SAMUEL G. GOSS. Witnesses:

C. E. PICKARD, W. H. DE BUSK. 

